Thill-coupling



T. G. MANDT. THILL GOUPLING.

(No Model.)

Patent'ed'June' 3 UNITED ST TES PATENT OFFICE.

,TARGE e; MANDT, or STOUGHTON, WISCONSIN.

'THILL-VCOUPLI'NG.

SPECIFICATION forming partof -Letters Patent No. 429,462, dated June 3, 1890.

Application filed March 7, 1890. semi No. 342,989. (Nam-t1.)

To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that I, TARGEG; MANDT, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of Stoughton, in the county of Dane and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Thill-Oouplings and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which 7 Figure l is a perspective view of my improved thill-coupling. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View of the same. Fig.4 is a perspective View of the end of the thill-iron with its cross-head or coupling detached from the shackle. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of theshackle, and Fig. 5 is a plan of the under side of the coupling.

Like letters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the figures.

This invention relates to thill-couplings or shaft-couplings of the type known in the trade as anti-rattlers; and it consists in the improved construction and combination of parts of a device of that class, as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, the letter A designates the thill proper, and B the thilliron, the inner end of which is bent and shaped to form the cylindrical coupling-piece O and cross-head D. This cross-head, which is in the nature of two reduced extensions of the cylindrical part O-one on each side-is provided at opposite ends with two downwardly-proj ecting tongues E, the straight side of which is recessed or notched, as shown at F, for the purpose hereinafter set forth.

The shackle consists of two parallel side pieces G G, which, in connection with the cross-bars H and H, form a rectangular frame cast in one piece. The forward ends of the sides G G are curved upwardly and recessed, as shown at I, to form bearings for the cross-head D, the ends of which rest in the recesses I, with the tongues E bearing against the outside of said recesses. The curved and recessed bearings are provided with laterallyprojecting lugs J, of such a size and shape that when the thill is inits normal position for drawguard L.

ing the vehicle these lugs J will project into the triangularnot'ches F intheside tongues E, and therebyinterlock with the thill in such a manner that this cannot possibly become detached on disconnected from its hearings in the shackle.

A slot K is cut in the forward shackle crossbar H to form hinge-bearing for the spring- This consists of a flat piece of steel or other suitable metal, bent so as to form a curved cap or guard L, having an upward flap or projection L and a tail-piece L which is inserted through the slot K and bent around the rear part of cross-piece II to form a hinge. The back of the curved cap or guard Lbears against the free end of a spring M, fastened to the rear part of the shackle-frame, between said frame and the axle N, and projecting with its free end up between the side pieces G G, as shown more clearly in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The cap or guard L is prevented from being forced too far forward, through the pressure of the spring M, by two studs N one on each inner side of the curved couplings-above and integral with the forward cross-bar H, said studs or stops limiting the forward motion of the guard and its spring when the thill is detached or uncoupled from the shackle. WVhen the parts are coupled, however,the curved guard or cap L willbear against the cylindrical coupling-head O and operate to force the same firmly into its seat in the coupling, so as to prevent looseplay and consequent rattling. This guard, actuated by the spring behind it, will also operate to take up wear by always seating the thill-head firmly in its recessed hearings in the shackle. In addition to this'it serves as an auxiliary lock or fastening for the thill, which cannot be uncoupled or detached from the shackle except by first drawing the guard back (by means of its projecting fiapL') against the spring M, so as to release it from the cylindrical thillhead 0 and then raise the thill until the notched tongues E are disengaged from the interlocking fixed side lugs J, when the thill can readily be uncoupled from the shackle by simply lifting the coupling-head C D out of the recessed bearings I I in the shackle.

The rectangular shackle body or frame G H H is fastened to the under side of the axle N by two clips 0 O of the ordinary or' common construction, and the shackle-spring M, projecting between said clips and the side pieces G G, is thereby held firmly in its place and effectually prevented from lateral displacement.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States The combination, in a thill-coupling, of the rectangular shackle-frame having the curvedbearings I provided with the laterally-projecting and recessed lugs J, thill-iron l3, havin g coupling-head or cross-head C D, provided with the downwardly-projecting tongues E, adapted to engage the notched or recessed side lugs J, the cap or guard L, hinged in the forward cross-piece of the shackle-frame and TARGE G. MANDT.

' Witnesses:

S. H. SEVERONS,

B. E. WAIT. 

